Newsletter #30 - Living as a young carer; combating abusive relationships; healthy exercise while pregnant.

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TeenHelp Newsletter #30 - September 15th 2012 - http://www.teenhelp.org

Welcome to the TeenHelp Newsletter! Our Newsletter contains a lot of useful information about our current work, including updates to our site and services, work with our partners and affiliates, details of upcoming events, short bits of advice, interesting links and more!

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TeenHelp regularly makes changes to its site and services. Some of these are large and noticeable, and others are small and much less so, but each one contributes to the positive development of TeenHelp and how our users experience our community. Below are some of the most recent developments.

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Latest videos (September 8th 2012)

Due to the hard work of our Videos Team, we continue to see many great additions to our Videos section. More videos are being added all the time, so check regularly to see all our favourite picks! Some of our latest additions include:

Pregnancy exercise
Exercising during pregnancy has its benefits, but which form of exercise and how much exercise is best? In this video, Dr. Jay Goldberg provides expert advice on the recommended exercises during pregnancy, the precautions one should take, and at what point should one stop exercising.

Young carers
In this video, two children talk about the reality of going to school and caring for their parents; how both being around other young carers, and the initiatives taken by the organisation Young Carers have helped them. This video aims to let young carers know that they can get help from their school and other organisations, and that they are not alone.

10 signs of emotionally abusive relationships
This video reveals the fact that the victim of emotional abuse can be anyone, in any type of relationship. It highlights ten signs for recognising an emotionally abusive romantic relationship, and how to spot if your partner is emotionally abusive.

It's time
The objective of this video is to prove that a relationship between two people of the LGBT community is the same as a relationship between a male and female, and that it is time to end marriage discrimination. This video is well worth watching, and a great way to raise awareness.

http://www.teenhelp.org/videos/latest/

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Expanding volunteer team (September 2nd 2012)

TeenHelp are currently looking for a number of new volunteers to expand our team and provide support to enable us to run our services as efficiently as possible. For this we have created several new roles as well as recruiting additional volunteers for existing areas. Some of the roles available include:

• Volunteering Officer.
• Communications Officer.
• Article Editor (News and Debates).
• Newsletter Editor.

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with TeenHelp please contact us.

http://www.teenhelp.org/volunteer/

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Latest articles (September 1st 2012)

Our team of talented writers bring our users a constant stream of fresh articles to read each month. Articles are being published regularly, so be sure to check regularly to see what we're doing. Some of our latest additions include:

Young carers (caregivers) - caring for a loved one
There are many myths and questions surrounding the term 'young carer', which this article aims to dispel and answer, respectively. It explains what a young carer is, what they do, and the support services available to them.

How to train a child
Being a parent or guardian of a child can be challenging, especially when that child begins misbehaving. This article gives some easy-to-follow tips on how to use reinforcement and punishment to help you 'train your child'.

Rainbow pancakes
This fun and quick recipe will add a bit of colour to your plate. If you are getting fed up (pun intended) with regular pancakes, try this simple trick to make them more exciting.

What is queer?
'Queer' is a term that has been used negatively in the past but is now being reclaimed by the LGBT community and used as a self-identity. This article explores what it means to be queer, why people may identify as such, and what you should do if you think you are queer.

http://www.teenhelp.org/articles/

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TeenHelp works with a range of different organisations and websites in order to help and educate young people. Below is a selection of some of them. For a full list of the organisations we work with, please visit our Resources page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/resources/

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ED Referral

ED Referral, founded in 1999, is an organisation devoted to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Their website contains comprehensive information about the different types of eating disorders, how to help loved ones and other informative articles. It also includes treatment options and helpful advice on finding a therapist. Although the website is based in the US, it is a great starting point for any individual seeking recovery, and for those wishing to help a loved one.

http://www.edreferral.com

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Each month we share small bits of practical advice that you can implement to improve your life or that of others.

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What to do if you are being physically abused

Physical abuse is the deliberate act of causing pain and injury to others. It can be a very scary time, but remember that it is not your fault. Your safety should always come first, and here are a few tips on what you can do.

• Confide in trustworthy friends and family to gain their support and assistance should you need it. Create a code word that you could use with your family and friends, so that they can call for help if you are in danger.
• If you get an inkling of impending abuse, avoid dangerous places, for example, a kitchen, where there are potential weapons that could be used in the heat of the moment.
• Make a list of people to call, if you need help calling the authorities, or if you need a place to stay, and memorise their contact numbers.
• Plan an escape route if you need to leave in a hurry, and leave some belongings with a trusted friend or family member.
• Seek support from a professional, as working through the traumatic event can help you to heal and move on.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f13-rape-abuse/

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Keeping up with homework

Many of you will have the same goal in mind for the new school year: To get good grades. In order to achieve good grades, it is expected that you complete your homework on time, which can be difficult for a lot of people! Here are a few tips on how to keep up with homework.

• Start your homework if the teacher gives you free time at the end of class. This will give you a head start so that you will not have to do as much after school. You will also have the opportunity to ask your teacher for help, should you not understand the homework.
• Buy a day planner/agenda. You can write down what the homework is, and when it is due. This will help you to stay organised.
• Find a quiet place where you can focus on your homework without interruption, such as your bedroom or in a library.
• Complete the homework that is due in first. For example, if you have a 2,000 word essay due in a week, and a short take-home quiz due tomorrow, get the quiz out of the way first. Doing the quiz first will allow you to focus on the essay.
• Make sure that you take frequent, short breaks. For example, for every hour of homework that you do, take a fifteen-minute break.
• Save some time at the end to check over your work. Make sure that you have completed all your homework. If you are unsure about anything, circle the part that confuses you, and then ask your teacher about it the next day.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-education-careers/

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How to deal with anxiety

Feeling anxious is an unpleasant feeling, but it is something that many of us experience; you are not alone. Here are some tips that will help you deal with anxiety.

• Try some yoga, deep breathing, tai chi and meditation to help you relax and loosen up. It might be helpful to visualise a calm, peaceful place. While sitting in front of the television or at the computer may be a good distraction, it will only relax you temporarily.
• Get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthy foods. Avoid caffeine, chocolate and sugar, as they are known to increase anxiety levels.
• Spend time outside in the fresh air. Go for a walk or a bike ride in your local area.
• Think positively to help you shift your focus and to feel less preoccupied with your worries.
• Spend some time with family and friends. Talking to someone is a great way to get some anxiety of your chest, as they might have felt the same way as you have at some point.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f205-anxiety/

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A lot of content is posted to TeenHelp every single day, from threads to articles, social groups to albums. But it is difficult for even the most veteran user to keep on top of it all, so we have selected a few items from among the masses that we thought were interesting to draw your attention to.

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Threads

Goals for the school year!
For those who are still at school, it is common to set some goals to achieve before the end of the year. What are some of your goals? Check out this thread to read other user's goals, as well as share your own!
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f126-...s-school-year/

S'more Brownies
Do you plan on going to a party or gathering where you will need to make a dessert? How about S'more Brownies? They are a unique dessert that is yummy and easy to make! For more on how to make this delicious treat, check out this thread!
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f184-...more-brownies/

How did you come up with your username?
What inspired you to choose your current username? Let other users know here!
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f3-ge...your-username/

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Social Groups

For the LGBTQs
Do you consider yourself to be LGBTQ? Are you questioning your sexual orientation? Here is a social group that you can join to talk about the issues you face, or simply to get to know others going through the same thing you are.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g370-++lgbtq%27s/

Broken Families
Do you come from a broken family? Have your parents split up, and are now re-married to someone else? This group is for those going through something similar. Within this group, you're able to talk about your emotions and get support from it.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...oken+families/

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Albums

Tumblr
Looking at beautiful pictures can inspire or cheer us up. Check out one of our user's albums here!
http://www.teenhelp.org/albums/heart...-tumblr+stuff/

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Each month we feature a picture by one of our users. If you would like to see your picture here please contact us by replying to this Newsletter, emailing us at contact@teenhelp.org, or messaging our Newsletter Officer (Halcyon) on the website.


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Upcoming events

Discussion: Dealing with emotional abuse (Saturday September 22nd 2012)

Emotional abuse can affect anyone, but can often be difficult to detect as it can happen "behind closed doors" and the scars are invisible. This kind of abuse can be damaging to your mental health, but the good news is that you do not have to endure this forever. Join this discussion to learn how to recognise the signs of emotional abuse and how to cope with it, and to seek support from your peers.

Discussion: Dealing with triggers (Saturday September 29th 2012)

Triggers are anything that reminds you of negative feelings or makes you want to perform unhealthy or dangerous behaviours. Often these are unavoidable parts of life and are tough to deal with on your own. This discussion will help you learn to control any urges the triggers may cause and how to prevent them from affecting you.

Discussion: Managing stress (Saturday October 6th 2012)

We can feel stressed when there are so many things demanding our attention at once. While a certain amount of stress is necessary, for example, to help us complete an assignment, too much stress can lead to mental health problems. This discussion will teach you how to recognise what triggers your stress, how to help you manage stress, and how to get support for it.

Discussion: Building positive relationships (Saturday October 13th 2012)

Relationships between family members, friends and significant others each come with their own difficulties, but knowing how to overcome the obstructions to your relationships is essential if they are to be fulfilling for you. Join this discussion to look at how to build positive relationships with those you care about.

For more information about upcoming Facilitated Chat Room Discussions (FCRDs), and the times that these discussions will take place, please visit our FCRD page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/chat/discussions/

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Donate to TeenHelp

In order to continue providing free services to young people around the world, TeenHelp requires a constant income of voluntary donations to support our regular costs. If you are able to, we ask that you please donate any money you can to us, even if it's only a few dollars.

http://www.teenhelp.org/donate/

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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Our Facebook and Twitter pages are a great place to get a lot of high-quality information. We aim to connect you to interesting organisations, volunteering opportunities, events, news stories, pictures, videos, and more!

Facebook: http://www.teenhelp.org/facebook
Twitter: http://www.teenhelp.org/twitter

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Editorial team

Editor-in-Chief: Rob
Newsletter Officer/Deputy Editor: Haley (Halcyon)
Assistant Editor: Lyndsee (Heartlines.)
Assistant Editor: Rianna (Sunlight.)

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